Nathan botsfoed



(No Model.)

N. BOTSIORD.

WAGON SPRING.

No. 251,994. Patented Jan. 3,1882.

Wl'llz ease s 112 Vezztar N. PETKRS. PhcloLilhognpMr. Wahingicn. o c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN BOTSFORD, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

WAGON-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 251,994, dated January 3, 1882. Application filed May 81, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN BOTSFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Lockport, in the countyof Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon Springs, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of my invention is to adapt a wagon or other vehicle for light or heavy loads; and it consists in the combination of a long and'short curved spring, each inclosed near the center within a case or sleeve to keep them in place and allow the whole of each spring to operate freely,whereby the longer spring will work independently of the short spring and operate easily under a light load, but the two springs will combine and act together under a heavy load, so that the wagon or other vehicle will ride easy either way, as will be more clearly hereinafter shown by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in perspective. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the two springs and their connections separate from the bolster; and Fig. 3 represents a section in line was, Fig. 2, through the lower spring and sleeve and bar. p

(t represents the upper bar, for holding the p 7 upper spring, 0, which is connected to it by a 3 case or sleeve, 1), and the usual strap or its equivalent, (2 The bar a'is kept in place by an opening, 1', at each end, (see Fig. 2,) which opening fits over each side of the stakes 9, so

as to be kept securely in place and have a free up-and-down movement. The ends of the spring 0 rest upon the rub-irons J, which are fastened firmly to the wooden bar a and should each have an upwardly-projecting flange, to

prevent the spring from moving off or out of line, but still have a free longitudinal sliding movement while the spring is acting. The stakes g are fastened to the bolster f in the usual way. 0 represents the lower spring. It is made shorter, and consequently stronger, and its ends J are sufliciently far away from the spring 0 not to come in contact with it when a light load is on. It is also secured to its bar a by a sleeve, 1), similar to the upper sleeve, b, and is kept in place by the usual strap, d and secured by nuts 0 in the ordinary way. The upper sleeve, b, is open at the top and the lower sleeve, b, at the bottom.

If desired, the shorts pring may be arranged at the top and the long spring at the bottomwithout changing the nature of my invention.

It will now be seen that alight load will only operate the longer and weaker spring, so that the vehicle will ride easy under a light load, and that a load sufficiently heavy will bring both springs in contact, each of which will then act as a short and strong spring, and will act together, and the vehicle will thereby ride easy under a heavy load. a

In some cases the sleeves b b maybe dispensed with, and one or more straps, d used alonein their place to secure the springs to the bars a ct.

I claim as my inventiont 1. A spring for vehicles, consisting of the long spring 0, secured to a bar, a, by a sleeve, 1), and a strap, d in combination with a shorter spring, 0, arranged a short distance from it and secured in a similar manner to a bar, a, for the purposes specified.

2. The bolsterf, provided with the stakes g, the bar a, and spring 0, secured thereto, substantially as specified, in combination with the spring 0', arranged a short distance from it and secured to the bar a, substantially as and for the purposes described.

NATHAN BOTSFORD. Witnesses:

J. SANGSTER,

A. J. SANcsTER. 

